She remained floating on her back until she felt a large finger prod at her. Tymenio looked to be done washing himself and looked reasonably cleaner. He looked at her as if to receive the okay, that he had indeed done what he was supposed to do.
Amphitrite smiled, rising off her back, "Good work, now let's see about getting you bandaged up."
She swam towards land, lifting herself onto solid ground and wringing her hair out. Tymenio, as expected, followed. He strode right out of the lake, sending water droplets showering down on Amphitrite.
Shielding her head, she chuckled and scooted out of the line of fire. Hopefully, she'd be able to get a change of clothes from her hosts, or perhaps she could stand in the sun until her current ones dried.
One look at the sky, however, scratched that idea. Grey clouds had eclipsed the sun and sky.
She shrugged, "Try shaking yourself dry on the way back," she started, walking towards the treeline, "I don't suppose they'll have a towel large enough for…"
A faint glow caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She looked down.
The markings… They had turned a glowing gold.
Amphitrite's blood went cold, her face turning as white as a ghost, "No…"
A droplet of water struck her shoulder, not from Tymenio, but from the sky.
She hugged herself as she felt more raindrops fall, "No, no, no, not now!"
Tymenio stared at her, eye wide and brow furrowed. He cautiously stepped closer, "Why scared? Why do you look afraid?"
Amphitrite opened her mouth to answer, but instead a scream tore through her throat. It had started—the pain. The feeling of thousands of burning hot daggers stabbing into her struck her all at once.
Her vision blurred, her legs gave out beneath her, and she toppled over.
She grabbed fistfuls of grass, clawing at the ground and writhing. Tears crept out from behind her eyes. Cries squeezed out of her no matter how hard she tried to contain them.
The ground rumbled beneath her with Tymenio's footsteps. Through all the blinding agony, an acidic feeling hung in her mind. He was seeing all this, watching her manically spasm and scream.
She rolled over onto her back, the look on his face that hung over her far above proving her fears. He was trembling, his eye so wide it threatened to topple out of his head.
Amphitrite gritted her teeth, the burning overwhelming her mind, "H…hel…p."
Tymenio looked around helplessly, letting out pained mumblings as he searched. Finally, he fixed his gaze back onto her.
His face loomed closer as he bent down. Amphitrite flinched as his hands came down. He lay out one flat while the other hovered over her. With trembling fingers, his hand came down and pushed against her side. She winced as she was rolled over. The large digits handled her delicately as they ushered her closer to his awaiting hand.
She felt the ridges of his fingers beneath her as she flopped into his grasp, her legs and head dangling off the leathery platform. She tried to remain as still as possible, not to writhe as much as her body called her to in attempts to escape.
Beneath all the other sensations, her stomach lurched as the hand beneath her rose, carrying her with it. Through her blurred vision, she made out Tymenio's chest growing closer. She shuddered as she was pressed into him, his other hand appearing to support her head and cradle her closer. Amphitrite sank into the embrace, tried to focus on it instead of the torture that didn't let up for a second.
The surrounding mass of cyclops shuddered around her as he supposedly stood. That shuddering turned into a rhythmic jostling that in any other circumstance would have made her sick.
He was running. She could hear the leaves and branches tearing apart beneath them, hear his thunderous heartbeat right next to her.
"Help!" he bellowed breathlessly, "Help!"
Everything lurched to a stop. Out of the corner of her eye, she spied white marble.
Faint hurried footsteps followed, "What's going- OH!" Lycus' voice. His footsteps quickened, "Oh my… Nyn! Nyn, come quick!"
"Give her to me," implored Lycus.
"Yes, yes, we fix. Now give her to me."
Her stomach gave another uncomfortable jolt as she was lowered. Lycus appeared over her, and what she guessed were his hands slid beneath her. He stumbled back, struggling with her weight as the cyclops let go.
He grunted and started sideways up the stairs. Amphitrite's fingers dug into him, seeking any relief or distraction. She peered down where Tymenio stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching her be carried off.
As Lycus reached the top of the stairs, two robed men hurried forward. When their eyes landed on her, they recoiled, grimacing.
"Don't just stand there!" snapped Lycus, "Help me!"
That snapped them out of their shock. They lined up beside him. One wrapped his arms around her shoulders while the other wrestled her ankles together. The two heaved her up and hurried into the temple.
Her lip trembled as she fought back tears. The rooms flew past her in a daze.
"Set her down here," commanded the voice of Nyn.
The ceiling disappeared as they entered the circular meeting hall. They hurried into the center and lowered her body, laying her on a plush surface.
Amphitrite cried out, unable to keep it in anymore. The scream tore through her throat. She grabbed fistfuls of the plush something beneath her and dug her heels into it.
Nyn appeared over her. Her golden hair shimmered as she sat behind her head, hands grabbing either side and holding it still, "Amphitrite, listen to me. Stay with me. It's going to be alright."
She gritted her teeth, attempting to shake her head, "Make… make it stop!"
Nyn snapped her fingers. There were hurried footsteps, and two cloaked members appeared above her, each holding a bowl. They fell to their knees, dipping a hand into their bowls. A light green colored slime covered their hands, which they began feverishly rubbing onto her arms and legs.
"How do you feel? Any better?" one perked up.
Amphitrite shook her head, "N…no!"
"Get the lavender!" snapped Nyn, who began helping spread the mysterious slime. One of the members ran off, "And some of the gray stuff on the top leftmost shelf!"
Amphitrite groaned, struggling more and more to keep still while also wishing not to move at all. Nyn grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She tried to squeeze back, holding back a sob.
After a short eternity, a voice cried out, "I've got the stuff!"
"Good," said Nyn, now gently massaging Amphitrite's temples, "Place the lavender at the pillars and bring the-"
Everyone froze. Even Amphitrite stilled as the unfamiliar voice echoed in her ears.
The ground violently trembled, accompanied by two thunderous booms. All those around her stumbled where they stood, fighting to remain standing.
Amphitrite's eyes widened. A hand appeared, a massive, monstrous hand. Another appeared. They landed on opposite sides of the ring above them, the entire building shuddering.
The rain stopped as a looming form appeared above, blocking the view of the sky entirely. Despite the shadow that shrouded those below, the form above was crystal clear.
A head. A head and shoulders.
Her heart just about stopped. That tan skin and blonde hair… she recognized it! It was identical to Zeus'.
Oh no! he's found me! He's come to-
No, it couldn't be him. Though the skin and hair color were the same, and the eyes bore some resemblance, that's where the similarities ended.
The face was softer in its shape, and the hair drastically shorter— at least in comparison to Zeus. This hair maintained a similar curliness but ended just below the chin. That was another difference. This face sported no beard and was entirely clean-shaven.
Her focus (as much as she could spare from the agony) turned to a strange headpiece atop the giant's head. It resembled a crescent moon, only golden and with jagged points. The sun.
Everyone in the room collapsed into deep bows, save for Nyn, who pulled Amphitrite into a loose embrace in her lap. The God ignored the worshipers, his attention upon the center of the room. On Amphitrite.
One of the hands grasping the building lowered towards them, "Let me-"
"No!" Shouted Amphitrite.
The hand recoiled before hesitatingly approaching once more, "Please, just let-"
"Get away from me!" she seethed through gritted teeth. She writhed and wrestled out of Nyn's grasp.
"Amphitrite, stop!" she cried, trying to grab her wrist, "Let him-"
"No! No!" She clawed her way across the floor, the burning and paralyzing pain holding her back like burning ropes. She glared up at the god, her muscles trembling from exhaustion. "Don't come anywhere near me!"
The god's eyes widened, his brow furrowing. His gaze flicked to Nyn, looking clueless.
Amphitrite tried clawing further away. Her stomach churned as two heavy weights pressed into her waist. She whipped her head around, horrified to see the tips of two fingers bigger than her head.
She yelped as she was torn away from the ground, being dragged into the air. Her limbs flailed, attempting to fight her way free.
"I'm trying to help you."
Amphitrite cried out again, the fingers suddenly letting go. Her fall was cut short, landing on a leathery surface.
Five fingers surrounded her, curling slightly as she was raised higher into the sky. The god's face grew closer, his eyes narrowed.
"Hold still," he commanded.
Amphitrite paled, his other hand appearing overhead and quickly approaching, "W-wait! no-"
A single finger slammed into her chest, pinning her down. The god closed his eyes.
The markings' golden glow flickered. Her eyes widened as the pain wavered ever so slightly. She gasped, relief filling her.
A second later, the pain returned in its entirety, the markings burning bright. Amphitrite cried out.
"Come on," muttered the god. His finger lifted off of her and was replaced by his whole hand. It cupped overhead, surrounding her in a handmade cage lit only by her markings.
Her heart skipped a beat as the markings dimmed once more. The burning washed away, the suffocating weight withering away.
Amphitrite held her breath, counting every second that this lasted, savoring each.
The hand above flew off, revealing Apollo's pained expression. He was breathing heavily, his skin paler, and his palm clammy.
Amphitrite gulped down a pained scream, trembling from the effort it took.
Apollo's face hardened, a determined spark in his eyes.
Without warning, his other hand slammed back over her. The two hands surrounding her tightened their grip around one another.
Amphitrite couldn't believe it, but she was silently cheering the god on.
The markings dimmed darker than ever before, the pain following.
Please. Please let it last…
Apollo's hands trembled, her surroundings rattling.
The markings' glow dissipated entirely.
Amphitrite's heart leapt. Yes! Yes! He did-
A pained exhale echoed overhead.
The markings lit up, bright as always. Dread hit her a second before the pain.
Her stomach plummeted as the ground gave out below her. She cried out. There was a tremendous thud and a loud crack. The wind was violently knocked out of her, colliding with solid ground… Well, solid hand.
Apollo had collapsed, the temple ceiling barely able to hold him up as he braced against it. The hand holding her now lay in the center of the room. robed members were strewn all about, toppled over, and staring up at the god.
Nyn, picking herself off the floor, sprinted towards her. She clambered over Apollo's fingers and fell to her knees at Amphitrite's side.
She shook her head, eyes watering due to the burning beneath and along her skin.
Nyn's frown deepened, crestfallen. She took Amphitrite's hand.
"I'm sorry," breathed Apollo.
She looked up, making eye contact with the god's weary eyes. He heaved a sigh, shaking his head.
"I- I thought I could…" his voice tapered off.
Nyn squeezed her hand, hanging her head. She suddenly looked up, something seeming to have come to her.
"I…" She gulped, letting go of Amphitrite's hand, "Please… forgive me for what I'm about to do."
Amphitrite gave her a confused look, "What?" she breathed.
"Bring me that bottle," she called over her shoulder.
Beyond her vision, someone handed Nyn the bottle with the gray stuff she had requested.
Instead of uncorking the top, she turned it over, grip tightening around the neck.
Amphitrite's eyes widened as Nyn raised the bottle over her head.
She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Nyn brought the bottle down on her head.
Breaking glass… then darkness.
